BIBLIOASIA APR – JUN 2017 Vol. 13 / Issue 01 / NL Notes

In 2015, Abisheganaden donated his collec- He also managed to master the piano accordion On his passion for tion of handwritten scores, notes and books on the without taking any formal lessons. teaching: double bass, guitar ensemble and choral singing When he was 15, Abisheganaden witnessed “Imparting knowledge, to the National Library, . A total of 158 the fall of Singapore when Japanese forces THE having rapport with people items have since been placed on the shelves of invaded the island on 15 February 1942. The is a great kind of blessing, the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library at Victoria Occupation years were a time of deprivation and I would say. It is a great Street and the Library@Esplanade. hardship for many, but fortunately for Abishega- thing… because I have This article explores the musical genius naden, his family and many other Indians were been able to help a num- of this guitar maestro and previews some of kept relatively out of harm’s way as a result of ber of people along the way the handwritten scores he used to teach during special ties between the Japanese and the Indian through life. And it seems his illustrious career as an educator. With this National Army. to me that this has been my donation, the National Library is hopeful that Abisheganaden’s strong musical skills stood great commitment which future generations of musicians will benefit from him in good stead during the Japanese Occupa- GUITAR MAN I was destined to do. I had studying Abisheganaden’s sizable canon of works. tion years. He found employment by playing the ALEX ABISHEGANADEN been able to touch people’s guitar in an Indian orchestra for the Azad-Hind lives, help them through radio station, which broadcasted pro-Japanese, Early Life and see them progress.”1 anti-British propaganda in support of the Indian Abisheganaden was born into an Indian Lutheran National Army. Because of his adept singing and family of nine children in 1926. His earliest excellent command of the Japanese language, memories of music were those in his home at Abisheganaden was asked by the Japanese Buffalo Road, singing hymns and Christian songs authorities to sing Japanese folk and propaganda with his family. His father played the violin and songs over the radio ukulele, and his similarly talented older brothers, After World War II, Abisheganaden com- Paul, Gerard and Geoffrey, were also musicians. pleted his Senior Cambridge examination and Thanks to these early influences, Abisheganaden embarked on a career in teaching. He taught at cultivated a lifelong passion for music. Rangoon Road Primary School between 1947 and His talents were spotted at a tender age of 1957, and later became the principal of several six when he made his debut on stage as a singer in primary schools until 1963. He was subsequently a variety show at Moonlight Hall, on the grounds promoted to Inspector of Schools at the Ministry of New World amusement park in Jalan Besar. of Education, a role he helmed until 1981. Numerous performance opportunities followed and this became an unbroken pattern throughout Family Life his entire musical career. The recognition that Abisheganaden received Abisheganaden met his future wife, Eileen Wong, early on in life affirmed his musical gifts. Besides at the Teachers’ Training College in the 1950s. Both being a naturally gifted singer, Abishenagaden shared a common interest in music and attended also picked up the guitar easily, having taught the same church. Brought up by strict Christian himself to play the instrument at age 15 using parents in a traditional household, the textbook, Ellis Through School for Guitar. Eileen was the eldest child and her parents had

(Facing page) Alex Abishega- naden teaching a young boy how to play the guitar (undated). All rights reserved, Eric Foo Chee Meng 1979–2001. Courtesy of National Arts Council. (Left) Alex Abisheganaden is in the second row holding the Alexander S. Abisheganaden, more popularly double bass in this photo taken Hailed as the “Father of the Guitar”, this known as Alex Abisheganaden, is an accomplished in the 1960s. He is with mem- Singaporean musician who was conferred the bers of the Goh Soon Tioe String Orchestra. Goh Soon Tioe is in pioneer musician has spent the last 50 years Cultural Medallion in 1988. The award honours a the second row, first from the championing the classical guitar movement in individuals who have achieved excellence in the left. Goh Soon Tioe Collection, fields of literary arts, performing arts, visual courtesy of National Archives Singapore. Joy Loh charts his illustrious career. arts and film, and have contributed to the city’s of Singapore. cultural environment. Often referred to as the “Father of the Gui- tar”, Abisheganaden is regarded by many in the music circle as Singapore’s first home-grown classical guitarist and double bassist – an affa- Joy Loh is an Associate Librarian with the National Library, Singapore. Her job ble and generous musician who has dedicated entails managing and developing the library’s performing arts collection as well as much of his life educating and popularising the overseeing the MusicSG digital archive. Joy also enjoys making magic in the kitchen. performance of music on the guitar.

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high expectations of her. Marrying outside of Cheung; and “Jingli Nona” (or Jinkli Nona, which Turning Professional References one’s race in those days was uncommon and means “Fair Maiden”), one of the most popular Chan, B. (2008, July 4). Teacher’s pet often frowned upon by society. In 1950, an opportunity came knocking on Portuguese Eurasian folk songs. It was often project. The Straits Times, p. 68. Despite the challenges the couple faced Abisheganaden's door. From his brother Paul, sung and performed at Eurasian weddings, and Retrieved from NewspaperSG during their early courtship days, the determined Abisheganaden found out that the Singapore the dance movements are somewhat similar to Chang, T. L. (2007, March 27). The Abisheganaden was clearly not to be deterred Junior Symphony Orchestra was looking for a the Malay joget. sounds of joyous youth. The Straits Times, p. 49. Retrieved from from marrying Eileen. Unable to receive neither double bass player. In return for the loan of a free Abisheganaden also composed works NewspaperSG his father-in-law’s permission nor blessing, the instrument, Abisheganaden agreed to play for the for the guitar – including original pieces and Chua, C. H. (Interviewer). (1993, March couple sought the help of Eileen’s uncle, Lee Swee orchestra and to pay for his own formal lessons. transcriptions of popular songs – for didactic 9–1993, September 5). Oral history Cheng, a prominent individual in Singapore’s The next few years he spent studying the purpose as a means to train and improve playing interview with Paul Abisheganaden business circles, to give the bride away in place bass under Hungarian cellist Feri Krempl turned techniques of the guitar orchestra. Iconic works [Transcript of recording no. 001415/48/01, p. 7]. Retrieved from of her father. Sixty-one years later, the couple is out to be a major turning point in Abisheganaden’s include the 16-bar long “Katong Blues,” a short National Archives of Singapore still happily married with two children, Jacintha, musical development. From picking up music work composed in 1971 for the TV programme website. 60, and Peter, 57. through experimentation and trial and error, Music Making with the Guitar, which derived its Email correspondence with Balraj Abisheganaden’s children, too, grew up in Abisheganaden rose to become an accomplished name from the east coast district in Singapore, Gopal, Bernard Tan Tiong Gie, Neo Pay Peng, Ng Shu Haan, James an environment filled with music during their virtuoso, taking proficiency exams in various and “Huan Yin-Vanakam”, a double concerto Heng and Jacinta Abisheganaden formative years. His wife was also musically instruments, including the double bass and Abisheganaden composed in 1995 for the sitar, between December 2016 and talented, and often sang and played the piano classical guitar. erhu and guitar orchestra. February 2017. at home. Aisheganaden’s brother, Paul, had In 1960, Abisheganaden became the first “Huan Yin-Vanakam” combines elements Indian boys who speak Hokkien. (2003, established the Singapore Junior Symphony person in Southeast Asia to receive a Licentiate of Indian and Chinese folk music – musical tradi- August 3). The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG Orchestra (later known as the Singapore Cham- of the Royal Schools of Music for performance tions that Abisheganaden has kept close to his Nanda, A. (2011, October 17). Strings ber Ensemble) in the 1950s, and Jacintha reveals on the double bass. A year later, as he was heart. The concerto blends sinuous Chinese folk of passion. The Straits Times, p. 4. that her home was often used as a rehearsal keen to pursue a college education, the plucky melodies with the rhythmic tempo of songs sung Retrieved from NewspaperSG venue. Jacintha has fond memories of how she Abisheganaden went back to school with the aid by Indian foreign workers that Abisheganaden National Library Board. (2008). Alex Abisheganaden written by often “met fabulous people, listened up close of a grant, despite having to raise a family with remembered from his childhood days. Together Chang, Tou Liang. Retrieved from to the most intrepid classical music and every two young children. with the inclusion of Chinese and Indian musi- Singapore Infopedia. day was a party.”2 He spent a year overseas at the Royal Col- activities and keep them away from the clutches cal instruments as well as Western classical National Library Board. (2008). The Abisheganadens often took their chil- lege of Music in London where he studied voice, of drug peddlers, the Ministry of Education influences, the work has distinguished itself as Jacintha Abisheganaden written dren to watch concerts and movies with a strong bass and the guitar. There, Abisheganaden (MOE) leveraged the mass media as a means to a singularly important example of world music. by Ho, Stephanie. Retrieved from Singapore Infopedia. musical element. While Abisheganaden naturally became truly immersed in his element and was facilitate the teaching of musical instruments “Gela Nexus” is another important work National Library Board. (2008). Alexander had a measurable influence on his children, he fortunate to be mentored by the famous Australian such as the guitar. for the guitar orchestra by Abisheganaden. S. Abishegenaden, Cultural made sure he did not coerce them into pursuing guitarist John Williams. In 1967, Abisheganaden Abisheganaden was commissioned by then Composed in 1995, the title is an amalgama- Medallion Award, 1988, Music . Retrieved from NORA. (Below) Pictured here are the music as a career. Instead, he believed that it started the Singapore Classical Guitar Society and Minister for Education Goh Keng Swee to pro- tion of GENUS, the NUS Guitar Ensemble, and [Interview] National Library Board. (2012). handwritten music scores for: was more important to inculcate in them a deep has championed the classical guitar movement duce 26 episodes of the TV programme, Music Abisheganaden’s first name “Alex”, symbolising Cultural Medallion written by Tan, (clockwise from left) “Huan-Yin appreciation of the art form, and provide them in Singapore ever since. Making with the Guitar, which was broadcast his feelings of pride and achievement with the Isabel. Retrieved from Singapore Vanakam”, “The Pursuit”, “A Song Infopedia. for Teachers’ Day” and “Gela- with opportunities when they showed interest. on MOE’s Educational Television Service for ensemble he founded. “Huan Yin-Vanakam” and Nexus”. Image source: National Jacintha took lessons in classical piano and two years from 1970 to 1971. He also wrote the “Gela Nexus” were first performed in January Phan, M.Y. (1996, January 20). The Birth of a Guitar Maestro Welcome-welcome from the Library Board, Singapore. singing, while Peter learnt the violin. The former two textbooks that accompanied the series. 1996 by GENUS, and again in 2007 in Singapore. The Straits (Facing page) Parts of a classi- erhu, sitar and guitar. followed in his footsteps, and is now an accom- The widespread use of recreational drugs The programme not only helped to raise the Additionally, “Gela Nexus” was performed by Times, p. 16. Retrieved from cal guitar. All rights reserved, NewspaperSG Abisheganaden, A. (1970). Music plished actress, entertainer and jazz singer. Peter among Singaporean youths in the early 1970s profile and popularity of the classical guitar, it GENUS in a guitar orchestra competition in Tan, B. L. (Interviewer). (1995, March Making with the Guitar (Vol. 1) is a businessman who currently resides in Kuala was a worrying trend for the government. To also established Abisheganaden as the master Germany in 2007. It became one of the first local Oral history interviews with (p.6). Singapore: ETV Service. Lumpur, Malaysia. divert the attention of teenagers to meaningful of the classical guitar in Singapore. works of this genre to be performed overseas. 9). Alex Abisheganaden [Transcript of In 1981, Abisheganaden founded the recording no. 001461/11/01–06,11]. National University of Singapore Guitar Ensem- Later Years Retrieved from National Archives of ble (GENUS) at the university’s Centre for Singapore website. Musical Activities. Beginning as a guitar class In 2007, Abisheganaden received the Cultural Tsang, S. (1996, September 29). They with fewer than 10 enthusiasts, GENUS has Medallion grant which he used to present popu- strike a chord in each other. The Straits Times, p. 11. Retrieved from now grown into a 50-member strong ensemble lar ASEAN folk songs as well as his original NewspaperSG with a wide repertoire and is recognised as one compositions. During GENUS’s 25th anniversary YMCA joins the attack on drug use of Singapore’s premier guitar ensembles. Its concert – organised as part of the NUS Arts and abuse. (1971, October 12). annual public concerts often feature Abishega- Festival – on 23 March 2007, Abisheganaden’s New Nation, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG naden’s original compositions and music that compositions were performed by an ensemble of he has transcribed for the guitar. more than 50 guitarists from GENUS in honour These works reflect Abisheganaden’s of its founder. In the years that followed, Abishe- personality and musical style: he enjoys taking ganaden continued to score church hymns and a popular ASEAN song, arranging it into a style teach classical guitar at various schools. He suitable for the guitar ensemble, and then teach- even explored teaching the ukulele. ing it to his students. Some notable examples Now in his 90s, Abisheganaden continues include the Tagalog song “Anak” written by to have an unbridled enthusiasm for music Filipino musician Freddie Aguilar; “The Pursuit” and life. His generous spirit and winsome composed by local music legend Dick Lee and personality endear him to many, and his legacy popularised by the late singer Leslie and generosity remain etched in the hearts of

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the numerous lives he has touched, many of Bernard Tan Tiong Gie, a critically acclaimed Notes whom still make the effort to keep in contact Singaporean composer and professor of phys- 1 Tan, B. L. (Interviewer). (1995, March 9). Oral history interview with the legend. Having taught and nurtured ics at NUS describes Abisheganaden as the with Alex Abisheganaden generations of students, his protégés continue ­“quintessential musician's musician – always [Transcript of recording no. to keep the flame of guitar-playing and his love young at heart and ever generous with his 001461/11/01, p. 3]. Retrieved from for music alive. immense talents”.3 National Archives of Singapore website. ONE HUNDRED YEARS’ 2 Telephone correspondence with Jacintha Abisheganaden, daughter of Alex Abisheganaden, on 24 the abisheganaden collection highlights January 2017. Among the items Alex Abisheganaden donated rearranged for the guitar orchestra by Alex 3 Email correspondence with Bernard Tan Tiong Gie, a prolific to the National Library are his handwritten Abisheganaden, and performed at “ASEAN Ser- HISTORY OF THE and acclaimed local composer and scores, pedagogical notes on teaching the enade: An Evening of Music, Song, Dance and a friend of Alex Abisheganaden, on guitar as well as his private collection of Poetry” concert held at the Esplanade in July 19 January 2017. books on the double bass, guitar ensemble 2008. The piece was a collaboration between and choral singing. In view of copyright re- GENUS and the NUS Thai Music Ensemble. strictions, only the handwritten materials CHINESE have been digitised and made accessible on Teachers Day Song: Our Teachers, Our MusicSG – Singapore’s premier digital music ­Mentors, Our Friends (undated) archive (http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/music). (Call no.: RCLOS 782.0095957 ABI-[AA]) His other donated materials are available for This song was written by Alex Abisheganaden reference at the Lee Kong Chian Reference for the Ministry of Education to celebrate IN SINGAPORE Library and the Library@Esplanade. Teachers’ Day in schools throughout Singa- Here is a selection of original handwrit- pore. Sung to the tune of “Tennessee Waltz” ten scores donated by Abisheganaden. by Pee Wee King, the title encapsulates the deep relationship between students and THE ANNOTATED edition Afternoon with Alex Abisheganaden (2010) their teachers. (Call no.: RCLOS 787.870922 AFT-[AA]) This is a bound publication of handwritten The Life of Christ: Aframerican Folk Song pedagogy notes that Alex Abisheganaden Cycle (undated) (Call no.: RCLOS 787.87 used to train guitarists for Christian worship HAY-[AA]) ministry. It contains photocopies of certificates This is an excerpt from “The Life of Christ”, of proficiency that Abisheganaden received in an Aframerican folk song compiled by Roland guitar, voice and bass training. Hayes and arranged for solo classical guitar by Alex Abisheganaden. Eleven September Two Thousand and One SONG ONG SIANG (2002)(Call no.: RCLOS 781.095957 ELE-[AA]) Three Cities Suite: Johor – S’pore – Batam Conceptualised and arranged by Alex Abishe- (undated) (Call no.: RCLOS 784.1858 THR-[AA]) ganaden, this work was inspired by the after- Alex Abisheganaden composed this piece of math of the 2011 terrorist attacks. It includes music, which was inspired by the Japanese two sets of draft summary text on Singapore’s Occupation of Singapore (1942–45). It is a re- history and development since 1819. The work flective piece on the incursion by the Japanese comprises arrangements for “Sumatera”, military as they advanced into Southeast Asia “Singapore”, “God Save the King”, “Negara in the early 1940s. It begins with a nostalgic Ku”, “Count on Me Singapore” and “Let There feeling of loss and despair that gradually builds be Peace on Earth”. The piece was performed up into a frenzy before ending on a patriotic by GENUS in a concert in 2002. high inspired by the National Day song, “Count on Me Singapore”. Announcing a new publication by the National Library Board that takes the Friends (1983) (Call no.: RCLOS 787.87 ABI-[AA]) Alex Abisheganaden wrote “Friends” in 1983, Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula Prime Ensemble classic 1923 text and updates it with annotations and recent research on the in memory of a dear friend who had passed Version with Steel Guitar Percussion & Etc lives and times of various Chinese personalities in early Singapore. away. The music is based on the popular ballad (undated) (Call no.: RCLOS 787.87 GOE-[AA]) “Danny Boy” (sung to the tune of “Londonderry Composed by Ray Goetz, Joe Young and Pete http://bit.ly/2jzQiGo Air”) that he had rearranged. “Friends” was Wendling, this arrangement by Alex Abishe- Visit BookSG at to read the digital copy. performed at a GENUS concert in the 1990s ganaden features the steel-pedal guitar for a with a narrative by Abisheganaden. Hawaiian-like effect. It was an encore piece for the 1995 GENUS concert. Loy Krathong: Thai Ethnic Traditional ­Arrangement for ASEAN Selector II (1999) (Call no.: RCLOS 787.87 LOY-[AA]) We invite the public to participate and enrich this book by contributing relevant The popular Thai Song “Loy Krathong” was information and photographs on the Citizen Archivist website at: www.nas.gov.sg/citizenarchivist 64